Brother and sister convicted of murder

ALFRED, Maine — A jury on Friday convicted an Old Orchard Beach woman and her brother of murder and conspiracy for killing the woman’s husband and trying to make it look like a home invasion.

York County Superior Court jurors deliberated about five hours before returning verdicts against Darlene George and Jeffrey Williams, who is from West Hempstead, N.Y. They face 25 years to life in prison in the 2008 death of 44-year-old Winston George.

Prosecutors said George, Williams and George’s longtime lover, Rennie Cassimy, killed Winston George because she was angry he was having an affair and because she didn’t want to lose any stake in their properties if they divorced. He was strangled with a rope and suffocated with a plastic bag after returning home from work at 2:30 a.m. June 20, 2008.

Cassimy pleaded guilty earlier this year to conspiracy to commit murder and he testified against Williams and Darlene George.

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After the verdict, Winston George’s siblings gathered outside the courthouse and wept with joy, according to the Portland Press Herald.

“The journey is over. We have what we want, justice,” said Whitfield George of Brooklyn, N.Y.

Defense attorneys told jurors that Cassimy was responsible for Winston George’s death and had crafted a story for police to secure a plea deal.